Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Scales and why I need some

However, I did spend some quality time with some new yarn from Biscotte et Cie, Precieux, which is best described thusly:

breathtaking colour inlambswool+ angora+ cashmere

mmmmm

And then I sat down to figure out yardage for another hat I've been fiddling with for a while.

Here's how I do this:

I knit a few rows and then measure out 1 yard and tie a knot, then knit to the knot and count how many stitches it took to get there. Voila! Once you know the number of stitches per yard, you know how many yards each size will take.

Not being one to let well enough alone, I also:

Measure out what's left of the skein and subtract that number from the yards the label says I started with.

And this is where I go reaching for the ice cream sandwiches, because the numbers never add up.

Yes, I should factor in the yarn lost to my gauge swatch, and tension differences resulting from minor interruptions such as the offer of cake (okay, I never get offered cake, but I can dream, can't I?) Still, it's perplexing.

The other day on the Yarn Harlot's blog I noticed a passing mention of scales and it occurred to me one can measure the weight of a skein at the start and finish of a project. It would make a third reference point.

And that's why I think I might treat myself to a nice kitchen scale.

Well, that, and the prospect of finally being able to bake up some of the yummy chocolate recipe booklets my cousin sends me from England each Christmas.